Michael Winslow facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Winslow
Winslow in 2008
Birth name	Michael Leslie Winslow
Born	(1958-09-06) September 6, 1958 (age 66) Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Medium	Stand-up, film, television, radio, voice-over
Nationality	American
Years active	1980–present
Genres	Beatboxing, character comedy, physical comedy, improvisational comedy
Subject(s)	Pop culture, American culture
Children	2
Notable works and roles	Comedy Sound Smackdown Larvell Jones in Police Academy Radar Technician in Spaceballs

Michael Leslie Winslow (born September 6, 1958) is an American actor and comedian. He is famous for making many realistic sounds using only his voice. People often call him "The Man of 10,000 Sound Effects." He is best known for playing Larvell Jones in all seven Police Academy movies. He also appeared in movies like Spaceballs and Cheech and Chong's Next Movie. You might have also seen him in TV shows like The Love Boat or in commercials for companies like GEICO.

About Michael Winslow's Early Life

Michael Winslow was born in Spokane, Washington. His parents were Verdie and Robert Winslow. He grew up near Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane. Later, he studied at the Lisa Maile School of Acting, Modeling and Imaging.

When Michael was young, he didn't have many friends. To keep himself busy, he would copy sounds. He could imitate engines, animals, or anything that made noise. After finishing high school and college, he started performing in clubs and theaters. People loved his sound effects, and he earned enough money to move to Hollywood. There, he continued to perform his unique act.

Michael Winslow's Career Highlights

Michael Winslow first appeared on TV in a show called The Gong Show. On the show, he made sounds like the movie dog Benji, noises from Star Trek, and even Jimi Hendrix's song "Purple Haze".

Becoming Larvell Jones

He became very famous for his role as Larvell Jones in the Police Academy movies and TV shows. He got this role after someone saw him perform before a Count Basie concert. In 1985, he released a song called "I Am My Own Walkman."

Movie and TV Appearances

In 1986, Michael Winslow helped present an Oscar for Best Sound Effects Editing. This award went to the team who worked on Back to the Future. Also in 1986, he played Spencer, an assistant on the TV show The Love Boat.

In 1987, Winslow was in the movie Spaceballs. He played a radar operator and made all the sound effects for his character in one scene. The movie's director, Mel Brooks, said that Michael saved them money by doing this. Michael Winslow also works as a motivational speaker. From 2008, he hosted a TV show called Way Back Wednesday with Winslow on WGN America. This show featured movies mostly from the 1980s. He still performs stand-up comedy all over the world.

Modern Projects and Apps

In 2010, Michael Winslow launched his own iPhone and iPod Touch apps. These apps brought his sound effects and comedy to mobile phones. One app, ThatsKungFu, made kung fu fighting sounds when you moved your device. Another app, NoizeyMan, had videos, ringtones, sound effects, and mini-games, all made by Winslow.

In 2011, Winslow worked with a game studio called Phyken Media. He provided all the sound effects for their mobile game Wizard Ops Chapter 1. He also lent his voice to Wizard Ops Tactics, which was a similar game. He was also in a commercial for GEICO Insurance.

In 2020, Winslow was a guest on the Dropout.tv show Game Changer. He won an episode that aired in January 2021. In 2021, Michael Winslow tried out for America's Got Talent. After his audition, he showed viewers how he makes some of his famous noises on the Talent Recap Show. He made it to the semifinals of the competition. In 2022, he was featured in a popular videogamedunkey YouTube video about video game sounds.

Michael Winslow's Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Michael Winslow para niños